Friday Dinner Ideas

By the end of the week, Friday dinner ideas are usually limited to those meals that are quick and easy to throw together or made from leftovers. Moms delight in throwing together leftovers for a meal because it is simple and also cleans out the refrigerator at the same time.

Sometimes, however, the leftovers have been used as after school snacks during the week and the refrigerator doesn't need cleaning on a Friday evening. It's those times when you have to come up with something that tastes good but doesn't make Friday night seem like you are head chef in a busy restaurant.

Of course, you can always order take-out or call the local pizza place or better yet make your own homemade pizza and movie night. So why not try some Friday dinner ideas that are easily made, delicious and won't threaten your budget.

Beef Taquitos

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 clove minced garlic
• 3/4 pound lean ground beef
• 1 cup salsa, plus more for dipping
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 10 (6-inch) flour tortillas
• 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack
• Sour cream

Heat oil in skillet, add onion and garlic and cook for three minutes. Then add the beef, cook until done, and stir in 1/2 cup of salsa, along with the chili powder, salt and pepper. Cook over low heat for ten minutes, stirring occasionally.

Put tortillas on a plate and cover with damp paper towels. Microwave until warm, then top each with beef mixture and sprinkle evenly with cheese. Roll up the tortillas and put them on a foil covered baking sheet, brushing each lightly with oil.

Bake until the filling is heated and lightly brown. You can serve them with either salsa or sour cream. This recipe will feed about four to five people.

More Fun Friday Dinner Ideas

Golden Fish Filet Sandwiches
Ingredients
3/4 pound white fish (grouper or cod)
3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
3/4 cup crushed wheat crackers
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
1 1/2 tablespoons canola oil
Cut fish fillets into small squares, rinse and dry them. Dip each fish square into the flour first, then the buttermilk, then the cracker crumb mixture (all dry ingredients).

Place fish squares in a frying pan coated with two tablespoons of canola oil. Fry until golden brown, place cheese slices on top (optional) and cover until the cheese has melted. Garnish whole wheat sandwich buns with desired condiments. Serve with French fries, macaroni and cheese or macaroni salad. 

Easy Taco Bar- Lay out your taco ingredients and let the family assemble their own tacos.

Made to Order Omelets- let kids pick out their own toppings or ingredients for their own made to order omelet.

Hawaiian Haystacks- This fun meal provides kids the chance to pick and choose their own fruit and vegetables that will go on their haystack.

Dessert Friday Dinner Ideas

Uncooked Banana Pudding
Ingredients

• 8 ounces sour cream
• 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1 (5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 (16 ounce) package vanilla wafer cookies
• 4 bananas, peeled and sliced

Mix sour cream, whipped topping, pudding mix and milk in large bowl. Place a layer of cookies in the bottom of a glass dish and layer the cookies with the pudding mixture. Then add a layer of the banana slices. Keep adding layers until all ingredients have been used. Refrigerate about an hour before serving.

During the warm weekends of summer, Friday dinner ideas can also include grilling out and enjoying pie a la mode for dessert. For some different ways to barbecue food, or more dinner meal ideas visit our kids meal ideas index.

Share your Fun Friday Dinner Ideas

Share Your Recipe

Do you have a favorite recipe? Share with others and let them try it!

Enter Your Title

Share your recipe [ ? ]

Close Help Entering your recipe is easy to do. Just type!...

Upload 1-4 Pictures or Graphics (optional) [ ? ]

Close Help Do you have a picture to add? Great! Click the button and find it on your computer. Then select it.

Add a Picture/Graphic Caption (optional) 

Click here to upload more images (optional)

Add a Picture/Graphic Caption (optional) 

Add a Picture/Graphic Caption (optional) 

Add a Picture/Graphic Caption (optional) 

Author Information (optional)

To receive credit as the author, enter your information below.

Your Name	(first or full name)
Your Location	(ex. City, State, Country)

Submit Your Contribution

Check box to agree to these submission guidelines.

(You can preview and edit on the next page)